truest.me
Explore CareersSponsor Someone 🎁Log InSign Up
truest.me
AboutCareer Growth ToolsWays to access truestPricingSponsor people/teamsWho is truest for
Terms of useContactPrivacy policytruest is a public benefit company
Copyright © 2026, Truest.me. All rights reserved.
Browse Careers
Career Explorer →
Tracks
See all →
Admin & OfficeAgricultureArts & MediaBusiness OperationsConstructionEducationEngineeringExecutive LeadershipFacilitiesFinanceFood ServiceHealthcareHuman ResourcesLegalMaintenance & RepairMarketingOperationsPersonal CareProductionProtective ServicesReal EstateSalesScienceSocial ServicesTechnologyTransportation
Top industries
See all →
HealthcareAdministrative ServicesK-12 SchoolsHospitality & Food ServiceHospital SystemsRetailWholesale & DistributionCatering & Mobile Food ServicesProfessional ServicesHospitals & Medical CentersEducationRestaurants & DiningGovernmentManufacturingAmbulatory Healthcare ServicesAdministrative Support ServicesConstructionFinancial ServicesGeneral Merchandise StoresColleges & UniversitiesConsumer ServicesLocal Government ServicesFull-Service RestaurantsSpecialty Trade ContractorsTransportation & LogisticsReal Estate Services
Top metros
See all →
New York-NewarkLos Angeles-Long BeachChicago-NapervilleDallas-Fort WorthHouston-PasadenaWashington-ArlingtonAtlanta-Sandy SpringsPhiladelphia-CamdenMiami-Fort LauderdaleBoston-CambridgeSan Francisco-OaklandPhoenix-MesaSeattle-TacomaMinneapolis-St. PaulDetroit-WarrenRiverside-San BernardinoDenver-AuroraSan Diego-Chula VistaTampa-St. PetersburgOrlando-KissimmeeCharlotte-ConcordBaltimore-ColumbiaSt. LouisAustin-Round RockPortland-VancouverSan Jose-Sunnyvale
Careers›Roles›Economic Developer
Mid-Level

Economic Developer

Helping a region grow — attracting businesses, supporting jobs, and shaping the conditions for economic health — is the work, balancing analysis, relationships, and long-game strategy. Building a local economy, deal by deal.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
I
E
C
A
S
R
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Economic Developers
ConstructionReal EstateWholesale & DistributionGovernment · 54%Professional Services · 25%Financial Services · 10%
Job markets for Economic Developers
Employment concentration · ~255 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Technology
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Economic Developer

Across government, employers, and community, you recruit businesses, analyze data, and build partnerships — a lot of time in meetings and relationships, with results that play out over years. Aligning many interests toward growth is the craft, and trust and follow-through matter more than any pitch.

The harder part is how slow and uncertain the results are — a single deal can take years, and many fall through. Politics and competing interests shape everything, funding can shift, and success is hard to attribute to any one effort. Scope varies widely by community size and mandate.

It tends to fit someone strategic, personable, and patient with long timelines. If you need fast wins or clear authority, the pace can frustrate. But if shaping the economic future of a place — and the jobs it creates — appeals, the work tends to feel genuinely consequential.

What people in this role value
Working ConditionsAbove avg
AchievementAbove avg
RecognitionModerate
IndependenceModerate
RelationshipsLower
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$112K+9%
Professional Services$101K-2%
Energy & Utilities$88K-15%
Wholesale & Distribution$85K-17%
Government$80K-22%
Compared to Technology average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Economic Developers (SOC 19-3011.00, 19-3051.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Technology →
Economic DeveloperProject ManagerImplementation Project ManagerTechnical Project Manager (Technical PM)Human Resources Project Manager (HR Project Manager)International Trade SpecialistResearch AnalystPlanning TechnicianPolicy AdvisorPolicy OfficerForecast AnalystCity PlannerCity DesignerCampus PlannerPlanning OfficialDeveloper AdvocatePlanning SpecialistCity Planning EngineerProgram Services PlannerCommunity Planning TechnicianHousing Development SpecialistEconomic Development CoordinatorResearch EconomistAgricultural EconomistEnvironmental Economist+1 more
Exploring the Economic Developer career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$56K–$213K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
59K
U.S. Employment
+2.3%
10yr Growth
4K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$80K$77K$74K$71K$68K201920202021202220232024$68K$80K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingReading ComprehensionMathematicsJudgment and Decision MakingSystems AnalysisActive ListeningWriting
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
19-3011.0019-3051.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midProject Manager$134KmidImplementation Project Manager$101KmidTechnical Project Manager (Technical PM)$101KmidHuman Resources Project Manager (HR Project Manager)$101KmidInternational Trade Specialist$90KmidResearch Analyst$100K
View all Technology roles →

Navigate your career with clarity

Truest gives you tools to understand your strengths, explore roles that fit, and plan your next move.

Explore Truest career tools
Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.